Dial mounting for weighing scale

ABSTRACT

An indicating device for a platform weighing scale including a rotatable shaft having a pinion fixed thereon adapted to engage a reciprocable rack, a dial support plate mounted on the shaft for rotation therewith, a dial mounted on the support plate including weight indicating indicia, interlocking bayonet slots and locking lugs on the dial and support plate for holding the dial on the plate, and a central aperture in the dial for receiving an end portion of the shaft when the dial is locked on the support plate.

' ited States Patent 1 Petersen et a1.

Inventors:

Assignee:

Filed:

Appl. No.:

DIAL MOUNTING FOR WEIGHING SCALE Svend A. II. Petersen; Padraic E.

rNeary, both of Co. Sligo, Ireland Hanson Limited, Sligo, Ireland JuneI, 1972 [1.8. CI. 177/173, 177/256 Int. Cl G0lg 21/18 Field of Search177/173, 174, 164,

287/20.92 A, 20.92 D, 20.92 J

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Puffenberger Craig GarbellHanssen Zucker 177/167 Hanssen 177/167 Weber 177/174 177/231 X 177/231 X177/167 X 177/173 [451 Sept. 18,1973

3,169,594 2/1965 Myers 177/173 3,167,144 l/1965 Jacobs et al. 177/173 X3,405,775 10/1968 Grady et a1. 177/230 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS1,389,971 1965 France 177/168 Primary Examiner-Richard B. WilkinsonAssistant ExaminerStanley J. Witkowski Att0rney-Axel A. I-Iofgren et a1.

[ 5 7] ABSTRACT An indicating device for a platform weighing scaleincluding a rotatable shaft having a pinion fixed thereon adapted toengage a reciprocable rack, a dial support plate mounted on the shaftfor rotation therewith, a dial mounted on the support plate includingweight indicat ing indicia interlocking bayonet slots and locking lugson the dial and support plate for holding the dial on the plate, and acentral aperture in the dial for receiving an end portion of the shaftwhen the dial is locked on the support plate.

7 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures Patented Sept. 18, 1973 BACKGROUND oF THEINVENTION The present invention relates to a platform type weighingscaleoften used in bathrooms and like places.

1 Typically, sucha scale includes a base with pivotally mounted; leversspring-biased upwardly to support a weighing platform. When a personsteps on the platform, movement of the levers against the spring biasactuates an indicating dial relative to areference line in a manner toshow the weight of the person'on the scale. More particularly, thelevers may be connected to actuate a reciprocable rack for rotating anupright shaft carrying the indicating dial. Prior US. Pat. Nos.2,960,329 and 3,l34,451 show scales of the type described.

In the prior scales, the indicating dial is a relatively large circulardisc of thin metal material having a cen tral portion attached to therotatable shaft and supported in an area around the shaft. In the priorpatents identified above, support for the central portion of the dial isprovided by a circular supporting plate mounted on the shaft. The plateincludes pins projecting into apertures of the dial so that the tworotate together, and a nut on the end of the shaft secures the dial tothe plate.

n is desirable to simplify the mounti of the indicating dial on therotatable shaft. 7

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION It is a general object of the presentinvention to provide an improved mounting of an indicating dial on asupporting shaft.

A more'specific object is to provide an indicating device of the typedescribed including a dial support plate rotatablewith a supportingshaft, an indicating dial mounted on the support plate, and interlockingbayonet slots and locking lugs on the dial and the plate for holding thedial on the plate.

' Another object is toprovide animproved indicating device asdescribed'above including a central aperture in the dial for. receivingan end portion of the shaft when the dial is locked on the supportplate.

As illustrated herein, an indicating device'embodying the principles ofthe present invention includes a rotat-.

able shaft having a pinion fixed thereon adapted to engage areciprocable rack, bearing portions on'the shaft at opposite ends of thepinion for rotatably mounting I the shaft in an upright position, aknurled portion on an upper length of the shaft, a dial support plateincluding a central hubjtightly fitted on the knurled portion androtatable with the shaft, an indicating dial mounted on the supportplate, bayonet slots in the dial, and locking lugs on the support platepositionable in the bayonet slots in the dial and including enlargedheads for locking the dial on the plate when the lugs are movedlaterally in the slots.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS I FIG/l is a top plan view, partlybroken away, showing a bathroom scale embodying the principles of thepresent invention; I

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to thedrawings in more detail, a platformtype bathroom scale is provided witha base supporting pivoted weight-receiving levers.'A decorative cover orplatform fits telescopically over the base and is supported by thelevers. A weight indicating mechanism is responsive to deflection of thelevers and carries a dial which may be viewed through a window in thecover to indicate the amount of weight on the platform relative to astationary reference line.

More particularly, the scale includes a base generally indicated at 10,formed as a stamped sheet metal member having an integral upstandingperipheral rim 1 l with corner portions 12. The shape of the base may beof any configuration but in the present instance it is illustrated asgenerally rectangular. The base is adapted to rest directly on a flooror floor covering and support the mechanism of the scale therein. Forsupporting the pivoted levers, upright slots are formed as at 13 in thecomer portions 12 of the base.

The weight sensing mechanism as illustrated. in FIGS. 1-3 consists of apair .of primary levers 14 and a pair of secondary levers 16pivotallymounted in the slots 13 at the corner portions of the base. Theprimary levers 14 are pivotally mounted at the rear of the base andextend forwardly in a converging fashion to a common support in theform'of a plate 15 adjacent the front of the base. I The secondarylevers 16 are pivotally mounted at the front corners of the base andextend rearwardly in converging fashion. The rear end ofjeach of thesecondary levers 16 is connected to a primary lever 14 intermediate itsends asat 18.'Each of the primary and secondary levers has a V-shapednotch 19 located near the pivoted end for suppoirting knife edge metalhangers 20 which rest on theV portion of each respective lever.

A platform 21v is adapted to support the weight of a person forweighing. The platform is preferably provided with four dependingU-shaped brackets as at 22,. each having a V-shaped lower surfaceadapted to rest on the knife edge hangers 20. The depending brackets22'may be attached to the platform by suitable means as at 24. Theplatform ispreferably formed'witha de' pending skirt 25 at the perimeterextending around the base and hiding much of the latter from view,

The'platform 21 provides a weight receiving surface upon which a personmay stand, whereupon the weight is transferred by the brackets and thehangers 20 to the levers 14 and 1 6, 'causing the levers and the plate15 to move toward the floor. A transparent magnifying lens 26 isprovided in an aperture in .the platform through which an indicatingdial 27 may be viewed; The weight ofthe person on the scale'may be readas that amount shown on the dial beneath a reference line 28 provided onthe lens 26.

The weight-receiving levers 14 and 16 are counterbalanced by thesupporting plate 15. The front end portions of the primary levers 14 aresecured to the plate 15 by rearwardly turned tabs 14a. A coiled tensionspring 42 is mounted on a pivotable post 43, and the bottom coils of thespring support the plate 15. The swivel post 43 has a slot across itsupper end for receiv ing and supporting the top end of the coiledspring. The post 43 extends through the plate 15 and the spring 42, Iand has a pivotal mounting on the base at 45 to permit limited pivotalmovement of the post laterally and lonat a position generally centrallylocated on the base. The weight indicating dial 27 is secured on theupper end of an upright rotatable shaft 52 carrying an integral piniongear 53 for rotating the shaft. The pinion gear 53 engages a generallyhorizontally extending rack gear 54 having a front end portion pivotallysecured to a bell crank lever 55. The bell crank is generally U-shapedand pivotally mounted on a rod 56 extending transversely through thebell crank and pivotally joumalled on a support member 57. The rack 54is pivotally connected at 58 to the lower end of the bell crank so thatthe rack moves with the bell crank. The rack is held in contact with thepinion gear 53 by means of a spring 59 connected at 60 to the channelsupport 50 and connected at 61 to the rack 54.

An upstanding ear 62 on the plate forms a bearing under the bell cranklever 55 so that deflection of the levers l4 and 16 allows movement ofthe bell crank and the indicating mechanism, under the influence ofspring 59. I

As seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the channel support 50 extends substantiallythe entire length of the scale in a front-to-rear direction and has acarriage 64' slidable thereon by means of pins as at 65 on the support50 pcsitioned in slots as at 66 in the carriage 64. A spindle is mountedin the upstanding rim 11 of the base 10 and connected to the carriage 64at 68. The spindle terminates in a knob 69 accessible from the outsideof the scale so that turning .the knob moves the spindle threadablylongitudinally to move the carriage longitudinally of the base/Thecarriage supports the shaft 52 and the pinion gear 53. As the carriagemoves longitudinally of the rack, the indicating dial may be adjusted toa zero reading without any weight on the scale.

The shaft 52 is rotatably supported on the adjustable carriage 64. Inparticular, the lower end of the shaft is 'formed with a reduced bearingportion 70 rotatably mounted in the carriage 64 beneath the pinion 53.At the upper end of the pinion 53, the shaft is formed with anadditional bearing portion 71 rotatably mounted in the crosspiece of anupright bracket 72 secured on the carriage 64. Adjacent the bearingportion 71, the shaft is formed with a knurled portion 74 tightly fittedin a .support plate 76 in turn secured to the dial 27. An

stem has an enlarged head 81.

On assembly of the indicating mechanism, the enlarged heads 81 of thelugs 78 are inserted from the bottom through the enlarged portions 82 ofthe bayonet slots, and then the dial is moved laterally (to the left asviewed in FIGS. 1 and 2)to a position where the reduced stems 79 of thelugs 78 are positioned in the narrow portions of the bayonet slots andthe enlarged heads 81 overlie the adjacent material of the dial. In thismanner, the dial is firmly secured to the supporting plate to rotatewith the plate, and at the same time, the plate reinforces the centralportion of the dial. When the locking lugs 78 are positioned in thenarrow slot portions, a central aperture in the dial is aligned'with thecentral hub of the supporting plate, and the shaft 52 may projectthrough the aperture in the dial to retain the dial on the supportingplate against lateral movement which might lead to unlocking.

We claim:

1. An indicating device for a platform weighing scale, comprising,

a. a rotatable shaft having a pinion fixed thereon 7 adapted to engage.a reciprocable rack,

b. a dial support plate fixed on the shaft for rotation therewith,

c. a dial mounted on the support plate including weight indicatingindicia, and

' d. interlocking bayonet slots and headed locking lugs on the dial andsupport plate for holding the dial on the'plate. Y

2. An indicating device as defined in claim 1, including bearingportions on the shaft at opposite ends of the pinion for rotatablymounting the shaft in support be armgs.

3. An indicating device as defined in claim 1, includ ing a knurledportion on the shaft and a central hub on the support plate tightlyfitted on the knurled portion for rotation together.

4. An indicating device as defined in claim 1, including a centralaperture in the dial for receiving an end portion of the shaft when thedial is locked on the supportplate.

5. An indicating device for a platform weighing scale, comprising,

a. a rotatable shaft having a pinion fixed thereon adapted to engage areciprocable rack,

b. a dial support plate fixed on the shaft for rotation therewith,

c. a dial mounted on the support plate including weight indicatingindicia, d. interlocking bayonet slots and headed locking lugs on thedial and support plate for holding the dial on the plate,

c. said support plate having upstanding locking lugs adjacent thecorners thereof each including a reduced stem and an enlarged head, and

f. said dial having bayonet slots for receiving the locking lugs eachslot including an enlarged portion for passing the enlarged head of alug and a reduced portion for receiving the reduced stem of a lockinglug with the head in locking position.

.6. For use in a bathroom scale having. a platform supported byspring-biased levers arranged to actuate a reciprocable rack gear forindicating weight, an indicating device, comprising,

a. a shaft adapted to be rotatably mounted in upright position,

b. a gear on the shaft adapted to engage an actuating rack.

c. bearing portions on the shaft at opposite ends of the gear rotatablymountable in bearings, d. a knurled portion on an upper length of theshaft,

e. a dial support plate including a central hub tightly fitted on theknurled portion and rotatable with the shaft, i f. an indicating dialmounted on the support plate,

I g. bayonet slots in the dial, each including a relatively comprising,

a. a rotatable shaft having a pinion integral thereon adapted to engagea reciprocable rack,

b. a dial support having a central hub frictionally' mounted on theshaft for rotation therewith,

c. a dial mounted on the support including weight indicating indicia,

d. upstanding locking lugs on the support each including a reduced stemand an enlarged head,

e. bayonet slots in the dial each including an enlarged portion forpassing the enlarged head of a lug and a reduced portion for receivingthe reduced stem of a locking lug with the head in locking position, and

f. a central aperture in the dial aligned with said central hub forreceiving an end portion of the shaft when the dial is locked on thesupport plate.

1. An indicating device for a platform weighing scale, comprising, a. arotatable shaft having a pinion fixed thereon adapted to engage areciprocable rack, b. a dial support plate fixed on the shaft forrotation therewith, c. a dial mounted on the support plate includingweight indicating indicia, and d. interlocking bayonet slots and headedlocking lugs on the dial and support plate for holding the dial on theplate.
 2. An indicating device as defined in claim 1, including bearingportions on the shaft at opposite ends of the pinion for rotatablymounting the shaft in support bearings.
 3. An indicating device asdefined in claim 1, including a knurled portion on the shaft and acentral hub on the support plate tightly fitted on the knurled portionfor rotation together.
 4. An indicating device as defined in claim 1,including a central aperture in the dial for receiving an end portion ofthe shaft when the dial is locked on the support plate.
 5. An indicatingdevice for a platform weighing scale, comprising, a. a rotatable shafthaving a pinion fixed thereon adapted to engage a reciprocable rack, b.a dial support plate fixed on the shaft for rotation therewith, c. adial mounted on the support plate including weight indicating indicia,d. interlocking bayonet slots and headed locking lugs on the dial andsupport plate for holding the dial on the plate, e. said support platehaving upstanding locking lugs adjacent the corners thereof eachincluding a reduced stem and an enlarged head, and f. said dial havingbayonet slots for receiving the locking lugs each slot including anenlarged portion for passing the enlarged head of a lug and a reducedportion for receiving the reduced stem of a locking lug with the head inlocking position.
 6. For use in a bathroom scale having a platformsupported by spring-biased levers arranged to actuate a reciprocablerack gear for indicating weight, an indicating device, comprising, a. ashaft adapted to be rotatably mounted in upright position, b. a gear onthe shaft adapted to engage an actuating rack. c. bearing portions onthe shaft at opposite ends of the gear rotatably mountable in bearings,d. a knurled portion on an upper length of the shaft, e. a dial supportplate including a central hub tightly fitted on the knurled portion androtatable with the shaft, f. an indicating dial mounted on the supportplate, g. bayonet slots in the dial, each including a relatively wideportion and a relatively narrow portion, h. locking lugs on the supportplate positionable in the bayonet slots in the dial including enlargedheads insertable through the relatively wide portion of the slots forlocking the dial on the plate when the lugs are moved laterally in thenarrow portion of the slots, and i. a central aperture in the dialaligned with said central hub for receiving the upper end of the shaftwhen the dial is in locked position on the plate.
 7. An indicatingdevice for a platform weighing scale, comprising, a. a rotatable shafthaving a pinion integral thereon adapted to engage a reciprocable rack,b. a dial support having a central hub frictionally mounted on the shaftfor rotation therewith, c. a dial mounted on the support includingweight indicating indicia, d. upstanding locking lugs on the supporteach including a reduced stem and an enlarged head, e. bayonet slots inthe dial each including an enlarged portion for passing the enlargedhead of a lug and a reduced portion for receiving the reduced stem of alocking lug with the head in locking position, and f. a central aperturein the dial aligned with said central hub for receiving an end portionof the shaft when the dial is locked on the support plate.